B/R Official Rankings for April: The Top 10 Light Heavyweights in MMA

After a year of build-up and plenty of verbal sparring, it’s almost time for Jon Jones and Rashad Evans to finally go toe-to-toe.

The biggest light heavyweight fight of the year is set to go down April 21st, and the one-time training partners are going to settle the feud that has been a major focus of the MMA world since Jones took the 205 lb. title off of Shogun Rua last March.

With former Strikeforce and Pride champion Dan Henderson waiting in the wings, the winner of this title fight will already have a top-level opponent set up in the consistently stacked light heavyweight division.

There hasn’t been much of a change since last month’s rankings, but the division is about to heat up considerably in April.

"These rankings are the combined effort of some of Bleacher Report MMA's best writers, as we continue to try to provide you with the best content on the web.*

After losing a decision to Ryan Bader at UFC 144, a loss that was even more emotionally troubling due to the fight taking place in Japan, Rampage went on a Twitter-induced insult spree towards his employer.

Rampage has always had an off-and-on relationship with Dana White and company, and they at least convinced him to agree to finish out his contract, giving Jackson the rematch he has sought for years against Shogun Rua.

The fight has been postponed for a while so that Rampage can get healthy, but if everything stays the way it is, it could be Rampage’s last fight inside the Octagon.

8. Forrest Griffin

One of the most beloved and well-known fighters in the sport, Forrest Griffin has been one of the poster boys for the UFC since he won the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter back in 2005.

Griffin holds big wins over Shogun Rua and Rampage Jackson in his career, but since dropping the belt to Rashad Evans back in 2008, he has been a very inconsistent fighter and has suffered in the rankings because of it.

A trilogy bout with Tito Ortiz is next on the horizon for Griffin, and the result could very well dictate his future in the sport.

7. Ryan Bader

Fighting Rampage Jackson is never easy, but to fight the former UFC champion in Japan takes a lot of guts.

Ryan Bader didn’t hesitate to fight the former Pride superstar at UFC 144, and once the opening bell rang, he went out and executed his game plan to perfection, taking Jackson down and controlling him to earn a decision win.

The win was the biggest of Bader’s career, and now that he’s riding a two-fight win streak, he can finally forget about the first half of last year that saw him drop consecutive bouts to Jon Jones and Tito Ortiz.

5. Lyoto Machida

Lyoto Machida was on top of the world just two years ago, but after losing three of his last four fights, he’s in desperate need of a victory.

Machida’s recent loss to Jon Jones saw him give the champion more trouble than anyone else before him, and he’s still one of the top light heavyweights in the world despite his recent slump.

As of now, there is no set opponent for Machida’s next fight, but “The Dragon” has been fighting the best the UFC has to offer for over two years now, and it’s doubtful that he’ll be given an easy matchup in his return.

3. Dan Henderson

Dan Henderson is one of the best fighters in the history of the sport, but the one major accomplishment that has eluded him is a UFC title.

Henderson has had two title fights in his UFC career, but he fell to Anderson Silva and Rampage Jackson in his first two Octagon bouts, and he’s been unable to earn another shot since.

After smashing Strikeforce’s light heavyweight division and back-to-back wins over Fedor Emelianenko and Shogun Rua, Henderson is on one of the greatest runs of his career and is next in line for a shot at the winner of the Jones-Evans bout this month.

2. Rashad Evans

After waiting nearly two full years for a shot at regaining his title, Rashad Evans will finally get his chance this month.

Evans was originally set to get a shot after taking out Rampage Jackson at UFC 114, but a rash of injuries to both himself and the champions he was set to challenge forced him to take a fight with Tito Ortiz just to remain active.

Evans needs this victory over Jones far more than any other fight in his career, and a win would give him a rare second run with the 205 lb. title.